The Bishops' statement on divorce

An editorial in the Times of the 14th August quotes the Bishops' statement on divorce.

The Bishops' statement that "The Church... believes that marriage and the family are of fundamental benefit for the individual and society" is not really exact because there is a very important qulaification to marriage and the family. In reality the Catholic Church "believes that 'CATHOLIC' marriage and the 'CATHOLIC' family are of ..."

In fact the Church will give a Catholic marriage to any divorcee who had contracted a prior CIVIL marriage. For the Catholic Church a civil marriage is not only worthless but considers the parties in such a marriage as in a state of sin. The only way such 'sinners' can be in a state of grace is to have their civil marriage dissolved either through divorce or though annulment.

I am not sure of the Church's meaning behind the reference to the family. Cohabiting partners constitute a family yet once again for the Catholic Church such partners are sinners and in order to be in God's grace the partners need to obtain absolution through confession and should either get married in Church or else leave each other.

Are we done yet?

The Sunday Times of Malta reported today the 6 April 2008 that doctors at the Mater Dei Hospital were directed to discharge patients from hospital because of a shortage of beds at the hospital. The Minister for Social Policy was reported to be working on the problem.

http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080406/local/bed-shortage-prompts-discharge-drive/

I could not believe what I was reading. Is this the same new hospital which took fifteen years to build, which cost an arm and a leg, and was the flagship achievement of Malta’s Government? How did we come to such a situation? What does “Par Idejn Sodi” have to say about this situation? What will happen in the future with an ageing population and an ever increasing population?

The Empire Strikes Back

In a front page article in the Sunday Times edition of the 30 March 2008, the empire strikes back at the accusers of JPO.

http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080330/local/mepa-audit-officer-behind-1994-mistra-development

The Empire will not tolerate any serious challenge to its authority or majority. Therefore it is employing a well known tactic. That is to undermine the accuser. In this case it is the auditor of MEPA itself. The public is also being prepared through the Sunday Times. It is curious to see how The Sunday Times got hold of this information. Was it the conscientious whistleblower who gave the information to the Sunday Times? Of course not it is the usual anonymous truth loving source. How come this source did not inform the Commissioner of Police but instead preferred the Sunday Times? Our ‘Par Idejn Sodi’ PM states that he is refraining from commenting on the JPO debacle pending the conclusion of the Police investigation yet someone with access to MEPA files, which is now under the direct responsibility of our ‘par idejn sodi’ PM has gone to the press.

I will be surprised if this does not end in the usual whitewash. The lying and the betrayal of the trust of the electorate do not matter.

Where is 'Par Idejn Sodi'?

It is funny how both the PM and the PN are completely silent with regards to the JPO debacle while the problem continues to simmer. Where is the 'par idejn sodi' to nip the problem in the bud before it derails the new Government.

This sorry state of affairs is causing untold damage to the Government. Lucky for the PN that the MLP is still bewildered after the electoral loss.

A Tale of Two Premiers

In 1998 Alfred Sant was leading a Government with a one seat majority. That one seat happened to be held by one Dom Mintoff. Mintoff could not stand Alfred Sant and Prime Minister and openly rebelled. Rather than appeasing this backbencher Alfred Sant rightly invoked his prerogative and held his ground in the face of his subordinate backbencher. Mintoff voted against the Government. Rather than be humiliated by appeasing Mintoff, Alfred Sant as Premier did the only honourable thing possible, he resigned and his Government collapsed.

In 2008 we have a similar situation. This time Lawrence Gonzi is the Premier and holds a seat majority in Parliament. This seat is held is by one particular backbencher called Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando or as commonly referred to as JPO. JPO is now a confirmed liar, having lied to his Leader, his electorate and to the whole nation. JPO has been completely discredited. All major voices on the island are calling for JPO to resign. If JPO refuses to resign, does Gonzi have the courage of his convictions to expel this discredited politician from his parliamentary group to avoid that his administration be tainted with this discredited politician?

Rather than ‘par idejn sodi’ we have Gonzi the ditherer. A veritable tale of two premiers.

Doing the right thing - Giving JPO the sack

Earlier this month, Dr Pullicino Orlando publicly said he had nothing to do with the development, and that the land was rented out to third parties. He had also said he had never even met the person who submitted the application for the Mistra development.

This is what the Independent wrote regarding JPO. http://independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=66569.

Furthermore the MEPA auditor reports that JPO solicited the DCC board to approve an application against standing policies. It is not the solicitation that is bad, (often the wheels of bureaucracy do need a nudge) it is the fact that he was pushing for something against policy and for his own benefit to boot that is unpardonable.

Don't such blatant lies to the PM and the whole nation merit a sacking? What do you need to do to be sacked? Where is the moral fibre of the Prime Minister or are the consequences of such a sacking more important than truth and integrity?

JPO is a test for Gonzi

It is now confirmed that JPO lied to the PM, his party and to the nation. He made a fool of those who defended him and the electorate. If the PM has any guts he should fire JPO and face the consequences. How can anyone run a Government and the nation on the support of a proven liar?